Absorbent bed pads with anti-slip backing

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a fluid absorbent bed pad suitable for absorbing bodily fluids of a patient. The pad includes a backing layer comprising a first polymeric fiber and a second polymeric fiber, the second polymeric fiber being relatively tacky relative to the first polymeric fiber and being present in said backing layer in an amount relatively smaller than the amount of said first fiber and comprising a bicomponent fiber. The presence of the second polymeric fiber will impart a tacky nature to the backing to resist slipping and bunching of the bed pad.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to disposable absorbent bed pads andmethods of making same.

BACKGROUND

Various types of absorbent bed pads, such as underpads and drypads, areused to collect urine and other bodily fluids of a patient person undermedical care by placement of the underpads between bedding and thepatient. Such devices are used in many healthcare settings such ascritical and non-critical nursing units, labor and delivery rooms, andoperating rooms.

Disposable underpads (also known as “chucks”) typically include a layerof a fluid-resistant backing, an absorbent layer, and a fluid-permeabletop sheet. Some underpads further include superabsorbent polymers thatassist with the absorption of fluids. Examples of such underpads aredescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,791,321. Drypads are typically higher-costitems with multiple absorbent layers. These products are intended toprovide the patient with better skin protection from harmful fluids.

Conventional underpads typically have a polymeric back sheet or bottomlayer, sometimes formed from spunbond polypropylene. The backsheet onconventional underpads can be somewhat slick, and, as a result, suchunderpads tend to move or migrate under a patient. Thus, it is notuncommon for such underpads to bunch up under the patient and create oneor more pressure points that may be harmful to or painful for thepatient. This movement and bunching of conventional underpads may alsoresult in displacement of their absorbent core when positioned under thepatient, which can result the product not functioning properly tocollect urine or other bodily fluids between the patient and thebedding. Conventional drypads, some of which also have a spunbondbacking layer, likewise can be somewhat slippery and prone to bunchingor displacement. Generally, it is desired to provide a bed pad thatmitigates the foregoing.

It has now been found that a bed pad may be prepared using a spunbondbacking layer wherein a portion of the spunbond backing layer includes abicomponent fiber, the bicomponent fiber having a tacky component thatincreases the coefficient of friction between the fiber and a typicalcotton bedsheet. This configuration provides a bed pad with an anti-slipbacking that resists undesired movement and bunching. The bicomponentfiber is preferably of a sheath/core construction in which the corecomponent of the fiber is composed of polypropylene and in which thesheath component includes a polyethylene/polypropylene copolymer. Thespunbond material may be formed in a multi-bank spunbonding machine inwhich the bicomponent fiber is emitted from one of the terminal banks ofthe spunbonding machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Disclosed herein are embodiments of devices and methods pertaining tobed pads. This description includes drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary underpad placedon a hospital bed and positioned for absorption of urine.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary absorbent drypad;

FIG. 3 is representational cross-sectional view of the absorbent drypadof shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a roll of spunbond material useful asthe backing layer for the absorbent drypad shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 5 is a representation of a spun-bonding process useful in thepreparation of a backing layer for a bed pad.

FIG. 6 is a representation of plural types of fibers useful in thepreparation of a backing layer for a bed pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, this disclosure relates to various embodiments ofabsorbent bed pads, including underpads and methods of making thereof.For example, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary absorbent underpad 100disposed on a bed 101. While the absorbent underpad 100 has beenillustrated in FIG. 1 as being generally square in shape, it will beappreciated that the bed pad may be an underpad or bed pad or similarbed pad and substantially of any polygonal shape or any ring-like shape,for example, rectangular, circular, triangular, circular, oval, or ofany irregular geometric shape. Generally, the absorbent pad 100 may beof any size suitable for a given use. For example, when placed under apatient between the patient and bedding, the absorbent pad 100 may havea length of about 39-228 cm and a width of about 25-102 cm. Desirablesizes include about 76 cm×91 cm and about 100 cm×230 cm. The bed padpreferably has sufficient cohesive strength to be used to lift at least90 kg, preferably at least 115 kg, and more preferably at least 135 kg,and even more preferably at least 150 kg.

Generally, the absorbent bed pad 100 may be used for placement under apatient and onto a bedding in any medical care setting to absorb bodilyliquids and/or other fluids that may be excreted by the patient. It willbe appreciated, however, that the absorbent pad 100 may be used incontexts other than bedding and indeed in non-medical care setting aswell, notwithstanding the identification of the pad as a “bed pad.” Forexample, the pad may serve as an indoor soiling pads for dogs and otherhousehold animals, or for use as an absorbent floor mat. The pad mayfind use in the operating room as a fluid absorbent operating room pad.Associated methods also are contemplated. For example, for use withpets, a suitable method of use generally comprises placing the pad on asurface and allowing a pet to excrete waste onto the pad, thendiscarding the pad. In the operating room context, the method maycomprise placing the pad onto the floor of the operating room or onto agurney, using the pad to absorb fluids emitted from a patient during asurgical procedure, and then discarding the pad. The pad may also finduse in connection with wearable products such as diapers and sanitarynapkins.

The bed pad generally comprises an absorbent portion or structure and abacking, the backing intended to provide slip resistance between the bedpad and the bedding onto which the bed pad is placed. The absorbentportion or structure is configured to have the properties offacilitating the drawing-in of liquid, passage of liquid, absorption ofliquid, retention of liquid, and the like. The absorbent materials maybe natural materials, synthetic materials, and any combination thereof.Generally, the absorbent materials may include, but are not limited to,fibers, foam, fluff, pulp, beads, woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, orany combinations thereof.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary absorbent pad 200 that is composes of alaminar structure. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 , the dry pad 200includes a spunbond hydrophilic top sheet 201, sheet, typicallycomprised of polypropylene, a cellulosic tissue layer 203, a superabsorbent polymer material 204, a cellulosic pulp layer 205, a secondtissue layer 206, a breathable polyethylene film 208, and a spunbondbacking material 210, as described in more detail hereinbelow. Adhesivelayers 202, 207, and 209 are provided respectively between top sheet 201and first tissue layer 203, between tissue layer 206 and film 208, andbetween film 208 and spunbond backing layer 210.

The material of the first layer 201 may comprise any suitableliquid-permeable cover and is preferably a nonwoven material. Suitablenonwoven materials include staple nonwoven materials, melt-blownnonwoven materials, spunmelt nonwoven materials, spunbond nonwovenmaterials, spunbond meltblown spunbond (SMS) materials, spun lacematerials, needle-felted materials, thermal-bonded nonwoven materials,trough-air-bonded nonwoven material, spunlaid nonwoven material, or thelike, and any combinations thereof. The material of the first layer 201may one or more polymeric materials, including, but not limited to,polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide,viscose rayon, nylon, or the like, or any combinations thereof, or maybe a biodegradable material such as a starch-based biodegradablematerial.

Beneath the first layer is an absorbent structure that comprises acellulosic material, optionally in conjunction with a superabsorbentpolymer. These materials may form together a more or less homogeneouslayer, or may comprise separate layers. In the illustrated embodiment,the second layer 203 is intended to be a liquid-absorbent layer, and itis preferably a cellulosic tissue layer having a basis weight of 10-20gsm and a thickness of about 60 to about 100μ. It may comprise athermally bonded, absorbent air-laid core made from cellulose fiberssuitable sources of cellulose include but are not limited to woodfibers, plant fibers, field crop fibers, fluff pulp fibers, cotton, butmore generally this layer may be composed of any other material,man-made or natural, that is suitable for absorbing fluid.

Beneath this layer 203 is a layer 204 of superabsorbent polymer, appliedto have a basis of 10-20 gsm. Exemplary super absorbent polymerssuitable for inclusion into this layer include, but are not limited to,polymers and copolymers of acrylic acid and salts thereof (includingalkali metal salts such as sodium salts, or alkaline earth saltsthereof), polymers and copolymers of methacrylic acid and salts thereof(including alkali metal salts such as sodium salts, or alkaline earthsalts thereof), polyacrylamide polymers and copolymers, ethylene maleicanhydride copolymers, cross-linked carboxy-methyl-celluloses,polyacrylate/polyacrylamide copolymers, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers,cross-linked polyethylene oxides, starch grafted copolymers ofpolyacrylonitrile, etc. For example, the superabsorbent polymer maycomprise sodium polyacrylate.

Beneath the layer 204 of superabsorbent material is disposed a layer 205of absorbent material. In the illustrated embodiment, the absorbentmaterial is a cellulosic pulp material having a basis of 50-60 gsm and athickness of about 1.25 to about 1.90 mm. This layer is intended toprovide a wicking mechanism. Beneath this layer 204 is another tissuelayer 206 that is configured substantially similarly to tissue layer202.

Beneath this tissue layer 206 is a film layer 208 that is air-permeableand breathable and that is provided to permit air circulation beneaththe superseding moisture-absorbent layers and the patient bedding. Thislayer 208 may comprise any suitable air-permeable material, such as ahydrophobic polymer than includes one or more of polypropylene,polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, viscose rayon,nylon, or any combinations thereof. This layer may have any suitable amoisture transfer rate, such as a moisture transfer rate ranging fromabout 5 to about 200 sec/ml, as measured by the moisture transfer ratestandard test ASTM E96M-05. This layer may have an air permeability from10 seconds/100 ml to about 100 seconds/100 ml as measured, for example,by the Gurley method, and conforming to the STM D737 and WSP 70.1standards. It may have a weight per unit area in the range of about 12grams per square meter (gsm) to about 20 gsm and a thickness of about 35to about 2000μ, in some cases from 80 to about 350μ. In someembodiments, the layer 208 is a calcium carbonate 40%/polyethylene 60%film stretched in the machine direction to enhance breathability.Beneath the film layer 208 is the spunbond backing layer 210, which willbe discussed in more detail below.

As indicated above, the illustrated structure includes three layers ofadhesive, namely layers 202, 207, and 209. Suitable adhesive materialsuseful in these layers include, but are not limited to, hot meltadhesives, drying adhesives, contact adhesives, UV curing adhesives,light curing adhesives, and pressure sensitive adhesives, including forinstance animal glue, collagen-based glue, albumin glue, casein glue,Canada balsam, gum Arabic, latex, methyl cellulose, library glue,mucilage, resorcinol resin, starch, urea-formaldehyde resin,acrylonitrile, cyanoacrylate, acrylic, epoxy resins, epoxy putty,ethylene-vinyl acetate, phenol formaldehyde resin, polyamide, polyesterresins, polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfides, polyurethane,polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylchloride emulsion, polyvinylpyrrolidone, rubber cement, silicones,styrene acrylic copolymer, ethylene-acrylate copolymers, polyolefins,atactic polypropylene, polybutene-1, oxidized polyethylene, styreneblock copolymers, polycarbonates, fluoropolymers, silicone rubbers, orthe like and various other co-polymers. The adhesive may furthercomprise one or more additives including, but not limited to, tackifyingresins, waxes, plasticizers, antioxidants, stabilizers, UV stabilizers,pigments, dyes, biocides, flame retardants, antistatic agents, andfillers or the like. The adhesive layer(s) can be continuous or appliedin various patterns, and may contact only a portion of, or substantiallythe entire surface area of any two layers adhered together. The same ordifferent adhesives may be used in each layer.

The foregoing drypad of FIGS. 2 and 3 is exemplary and it iscontemplated that the spunbond backing material described herein may beused in connection with any other drypad, underpad, or other bed padstructure for absorbing moisture emissions from a patient. In anothergeneral configuration, the bed pad may be composed of first and secondsublayers, wherein the first sublayer comprises at least one ofpolypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide,viscose rayon, nylon, and starch-based biodegradable material. Thesecond sublayer may comprise at least one of polyethylene,polypropylene, perforated polyethylene, perforated polypropylene,polylactic acid), polyhydroxybutyrate, and combinations thereof. The bedpad may take the form of an underpad or a drypad, and may have one, two,three, four, or more than four layers of absorbent material in theabsorbent structure that is connected to the backing layer.

Generally, irrespective of the composition of the absorbent structuresin the bed pad, the bed pad is provided with a backing layer thatcomprises a composite material comprising a first polymeric fiber and asecond polymeric fiber, wherein the second polymeric fiber beingrelatively tacky relative to the first polymeric fiber and wherein thesecond fiber is present in said backing layer in an amount relativelysmaller than the amount of the first fiber. Preferably, the second fibercomprises a bicomponent fiber. While various structures are contemplatedfor the backing layer, the backing layer may be a heterogenous spunbondmaterial in which the second polymeric fiber is disposed predominantlyon an exterior face of the bed pad.

Bicomponent fibers, also known as conjugate fibers, generally comprisefibers containing multiple discrete polymers, especially extruded fiberswherein multiple polymers are extruded from the same spinneret. Variousfiber constructs are schematically represented in FIG. 6 , includinghomofilament fibers and including three varieties of bicomponent fibers.Although either the side-by-side fiber or eccentric fiber construct maybe useful in some embodiments, in practice a sheath/core fiber ispreferred. The sheath/core fiber has a core polymer that is essentiallycompletely enveloped by the sheath polymer and, for this reason, thesurface tackiness of the fiber is dictated by the properties of thesheath polymer. This allows the producer to use a more inexpensivematerial for the core polymer and to reserve the tackier, and typicallymore expensive, material for the sheath polymer.

Any suitable materials can be used for the sheath and core polymers. Inone embodiment, the core material is polypropylene and the sheathmaterial is a copolymer of polypropylene with ethylene repeat units.Exemplary polymers suitable as the sheath polymer as are sold under thetrademarks VERSIFY by Dow Corp. and VISTAMAX ExxonMobil Corp. Thesepolymers generally comprise isotactic propylene repeat units with randomethylene distribution. The polymer alternatively may be a blockcopolymer, such as one of the INFUSE polymers, also available from DowCorp. Generally, any polymer that contains two domains, one more rigidthan the other, may be employed as the sheath polymer. Other suchpolymers include L-MODU, available from Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. andAFFINITY, available from Dow Corp.

When the sheath polymer contains ethylene as the relatively less rigidpolymeric domain, the ethylene content of the polymer may be any contentsuitable to provide tackiness to the fiber, and the amount employed mayvary depending on the diameter of the fibers. For bicomponent fibershaving a diameter of 15-35 microns, which is a useful fiber size, theethylene content may be in the range of 10-20% by mass of the totalcontent of the sheath polymer, such as about 15%. The ethylene contentmay be increased if larger fiber diameters are employed or may bedecreased if smaller diameter fibers are employed.

Desirably, the coefficient of static friction of the backing layer,measured with reference to an acrylic sheet, is at least 110%,preferably at least 120%, more preferably at least 130%, more preferablyat least 140%, more preferably at least 150%, more preferably at least160%, more preferably at least 170%, more preferably at least 180%, morepreferably at least 190%, and more preferably at least 200%, of thecoefficient of static friction of a similar backing layer composed onlyof polypropylene. While conventional bedding material is not made ofacrylic, it is believed that a backing layer that meets this criterionwill have a beneficial anti-slip property when used on conventionalbedding materials. Similarly, it is desirable that the coefficient ofkinetic friction of the backing layer, measured with reference to anacrylic sheet, is at least 110%, preferably at least 120%, morepreferably at least 130%, more preferably at least 140%, more preferablyat least 150%, more preferably at least 160%, more preferably at least170%, more preferably at least 180%, more preferably at least 190%, andmore preferably at least 200%, of the coefficient of dynamic friction ofa similar backing layer composed only of polypropylene. The coefficientsof static and dynamic friction may be measured according to any suitablemethod, such as ASTM D1894.

Similarly, any suitable amount of the sheath polymer may be usedrelative to the core polymer in the bicomponent fiber. For example, thecontent of sheath polymer may range from 10-20% by mass of thebicomponent fiber, such as 15% by mass. Generally, any suitable contentsufficient to provide tackiness may be employed. The fiber alternativelymay be a homofilament composed entirely of the ethylene/propylenecopolymer, although at present this is less desirable for reasons ofcost and processability.

Such bicomponent fiber is used to prepare a nonwoven, preferablyspunbond material that serves as the backing layer for a bed padcontaining the absorbent structure described above. In some embodiments,the backing material may be homogeneous and may comprise solely thebicomponent fiber. In other embodiments, the backing material is aheterogenous spunbond material in which the second polymeric fiber isdisposed predominantly on an exterior face of the bed pad. By this iscontemplated that the backing material is not uniform across itsthickness such that the bicomponent fiber is predominantly on one faceof the material, and that face is oriented outwardly in the bed pad soas to be positionable adjacent a bedsheet or other bedding material.

For example, with reference to FIG. 5 , the exemplary spunbondprocessing line 500 includes banks 501, 502, 503, and 504. Processingline 500 may be any suitable spunbonding processing equipment, such as aREICOFIL R1, R2, R3, R4, or R5 machine. Banks 501-504 cooperate toproduce a spunbond composite fabric 505, the fabric composed of fourlayers 506, 507, 508, and 509. In practice the spunbond process will notform entirely discrete layers 506-509, but rather, these layers will besomewhat intertwined and interconnected as is typical of spunbondfabric.

While it is possible to load bicomponent fiber for ejection from each ofthe banks 501-504, it will be more economical to load a homofilament,such as polypropylene, into three of the banks (501-503 or 502-504),reserving one of the terminal banks (504 or 501 respectively) for thebicomponent fiber. This will cause the formation of a heterogenousspunbond material in which the bicomponent fiber predominates on oneface of the material. In the illustrated embodiment, four banks areshown, but a greater or smaller number of banks may be employed, and inany case it remains desirable for the bicomponent fiber to be loadedinto one of the terminal banks.

Once the backing layer has been prepared, it may be formed into a roll,such as roll 400 shown in FIG. 4 . From this point, the absorbent bedpad may be made by any suitable method. Preferably, rolls of each layerto be incorporated into the absorbent pad 200 are positioned forlamination in conjunction with the superabsorbent polymer and adhesives,and after lamination via conventional equipment the laminar structure isthen cut into sheets of the appropriate size. The bicomponent polymericfiber will disposed predominantly on one face of the composite backingmaterial, which will become the exterior face of the bed pad. The methodthus includes joining the absorbent material and the optional otherlayers of the bed pad to the other face of the composite material, whichis then designated the interior face. If necessary for finishing, anysuitable edge bonding or finishing technique may be employed to finishthe bed pads.

Alternatively, sheets of a suitable size are cut from rolls of each ofthe materials and laminated in sheet form. The process may becharacterized as providing a roll of absorbent material, providing asecond roll comprising the composite backing material, described herein,and joining the absorbent material to the composite material to form anabsorbent structure. In practice, multiple rolls of material may becombined in a single operation or in stages to form a multi-layerlaminar structure.

In use, a bed pad having the backing substrate prepared as describedherein may be placed beneath a patient in and positioned to absorbfluids emanating from the patient, such as urine. The method may furthercomprise allowing one or more bodily fluids emitted by the patient toabsorb into the absorbent structure. Optionally, the method may furthercomprise removing a soiled bed pad. Thereafter the method may furthercomprise replacing the soiled bed pad with a fresh pad. The bed pad willbe less prone to slippage or bunching from patient movement than aconventional bed pad with a polypropylene backing.

The bed pad alternatively may be used in connection with a method forpatient transfer and/or turning. For example, a patient transfer deviceknown as the COMFORT GLIDE is sold by Medline Industries, Inc. Thisdevice has a relatively low-friction side and a relatively high-frictionside, and the device may be used in connection with patient transfer. Abed pad prepared in accordance with the present teachings may be placedover a patient transfer device to absorb bodily fluids excreted by apatient before or after patient transfer. The bed pad also may be usedwith patient positioning devices that employ wedge devices having arelatively low-friction inclined surface, where a patient is placed onthe device and the positioning device is used to slide the patient upthe inclined surface of the wedge. This arrangement may be used toattempt to mitigate pressure ulcers in immobile patients, where the bedpad is again placed between the patient and the positioning device toabsorb bodily fluids.

Uses of singular terms such as “a,” “an,” are intended to cover both thesingular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearlycontradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,”and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms. Anydescription of certain embodiments as “preferred” embodiments, and otherrecitation of embodiments, features, or ranges as being preferred, orsuggestion that such are preferred, is not deemed to be limiting. Theinvention is deemed to encompass embodiments that are presently deemedto be less preferred and that may be described herein as such. Allmethods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended to illuminate the invention and does notpose a limitation on the scope of the invention. Any statement herein asto the nature or benefits of the invention or of the preferredembodiments is not intended to be limiting. This invention includes allmodifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited herein aspermitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of theabove-described elements in all possible variations thereof isencompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein orotherwise clearly contradicted by context. The description herein of anyreference or patent, even if identified as “prior,” is not intended toconstitute a concession that such reference or patent is available asprior art against the present invention. No unclaimed language should bedeemed to limit the invention in scope. Any statements or suggestionsherein that certain features constitute a component of the claimedinvention are not intended to be limiting unless reflected in theappended claims. Neither the marking of the patent number on any productnor the identification of the patent number in connection with anyservice should be deemed a representation that all embodiments describedherein are incorporated into such product or service.

1. A bed pad comprising: a liquid-absorbent structure; and a compositenonwoven backing layer comprising a first polymeric fiber and a secondpolymeric fiber, the second polymeric fiber being relatively tackyrelative to the first polymeric fiber and being present in said backinglayer in an amount relatively smaller than the amount of said firstfiber and comprising a bicomponent fiber, the coefficient of staticfriction of the backing layer, measured with reference to an acrylicsheet, being at least 110% of the coefficient of static friction of asimilar backing layer composed only of polypropylene.
 2. The bed pad ofclaim 1, the backing layer comprising a heterogenous spunbond materialin which the second polymeric fiber is disposed predominantly on anexterior face of the bed pad.
 3. The bed pad of claim 2, wherein thefirst fiber comprises polypropylene and the second fiber comprisespolypropylene with random ethylene repeat units.
 4. The bed pad of claim3, wherein the second fiber is of a sheath/core structure and comprisesa polypropylene core material and a sheath material, the sheath materialcomprising polypropylene with random ethylene repeat units.
 5. The bedpad of claim 4, wherein the sheath material comprises from 10-20% of themass of the second fiber.
 6. The bed pad of claim 4, wherein randomethylene repeat units comprise from 10-20% of the mass of the sheathmaterial.
 7. The bed pad of claim 1, the liquid-absorbing structurecomprising at least first and second liquid-absorbent sublayers.
 8. Thebed pad of claim 7, wherein the first sublayer comprises at least one ofpolypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide,viscose rayon, nylon, and starch-based biodegradable material.
 9. Thebed pad of claim 7, wherein the second sublayer comprises a cellulosicabsorbent layer.
 10. The bed pad of claim 7, the liquid-absorbent layercomprising a top sheet, at least one cellulosic absorbent sheet, and asuperabsorbent polymer.
 11. A method of absorbing fluids comprising:placing the bed pad of claim 1 beneath a patient; and allowing one ormore bodily fluids emitted by the patient to absorb into the absorbentstructure. 12-13. (canceled)
 14. The bed pad of claim 1, wherein thecoefficient of kinetic friction of the backing layer, measured withreference to an acrylic sheet, is at least 110% of the coefficient ofdynamic friction of a similar backing layer composed only ofpolypropylene.
 15. A bed pad comprising: a liquid-absorbent structure;and a composite nonwoven backing layer comprising a first polymericfiber and a second polymeric fiber, the second polymeric fiber beingrelatively tacky relative to the first polymeric fiber and being presentin the backing layer in an amount relatively smaller than the amount ofthe first polymeric fiber, and the second polymeric fiber comprising apropylene ethylene copolymer, the coefficient of static friction of thebacking layer, measured with reference to an acrylic sheet, being atleast 110% of the coefficient of static friction of a similar backinglayer composed only of polypropylene.
 16. The bed pad of claim 15,wherein the coefficient of kinetic friction of the backing layer,measured with reference to an acrylic sheet, is at least 110% of thecoefficient of dynamic friction of a similar backing layer composed onlyof polypropylene.
 17. The bed pad of claim 15, wherein the secondpolymeric fiber is a homofilament.
 18. A method of absorbing fluidscomprising: placing the bed pad of claim 15 beneath a patient; andallowing one or more bodily fluids emitted by the patient to absorb intothe absorbent structure.
 19. A bed pad comprising: a liquid-absorbentstructure; and a spunbond backing layer comprising polypropylene fiberand fiber comprising a propylene ethylene copolymer, the fibercomprising the propylene ethylene copolymer being tacky relative to thepolypropylene fiber and being in the backing layer in an amountrelatively smaller than the amount of the polypropylene fiber, thecoefficient of static friction of the backing layer, measured withreference to an acrylic sheet, being at least 110% of the coefficient ofstatic friction of a similar backing layer composed only ofpolypropylene.
 20. The bed pad of claim 19, wherein the coefficient ofkinetic friction of the backing layer, measured with reference to anacrylic sheet, is at least 110% of the coefficient of dynamic frictionof a similar backing layer composed only of polypropylene.
 21. The bedpad of claim 19, wherein the fiber comprising the propylene ethylenecopolymer is disposed predominantly on an exterior face of the bed pad.22. A method of absorbing fluids comprising: placing the bed pad ofclaim 19 beneath a patient; and allowing one or more bodily fluidsemitted by the patient to absorb into the absorbent structure.